As we move closer to the one-year mark in January, After the Ashes takes stock of where Altadena’s recovery really stands — and what the next twelve months might bring.

We look at the rebuild by the numbers: 520 unique parcel permits issued and 334 active new builds now under inspection. Progress, yes — but uneven, and often inaccessible to those still navigating insurance, red tape, financial challenges and displacement.

From there, we turn to DC post Steve's recent trip. With the government shutdown and Democrats caving, the healthcare battle, and what all of this means for California and all of us. 

And we end with a difficult but necessary conversation: excess deaths, suicides, and other fire-related losses that haven't made headlines, but continue to shape our community’s emotional and physical landscape.

Through data, stories, and shared accountability, we’re asking, how far have we come, and who’s still waiting for recovery to reach them?

This week's small biz shoutouts go to Tyler Well's (of Betsy @betsynotbetsys) who is continuing to invest in Altadena and on track to open his second all day concept at Mariposa Junction, plus Mariposa Junction's Grand Reopening on November 15. 

Welcome back to After the Ashes, a Beautiful Altadena podcast where we dig into what’s really happening in our foothill community — from rebuilding after disaster to rebuilding trust. In Episode 15, we unpack a full slate of local headlines and hard questions:

Election season brought us decisions on Prop 50 and new faces for the Altadena Town Council — but what do these results actually mean?

EFRU’s latest findings on post-remediation contamination have many homeowners — especially renters, seniors, and those without funds — facing troubling realities. We break down the press conference, media coverage, and what it all means moving forward.

The Dawes benefit concert for the Altadena Foundation for Rebuilding (through PCF) sounds inspiring — but community voices are asking: where exactly are these dollars going?

Plus, we talk SB9, finger-pointing, and the county’s quiet push toward densification under the banner of “growth.”

And before we wrap — our Beautiful Altadena in person events are making a slow return. Don’t miss our Beautiful Altadena Friendsgiving Pie Night at Adelaide, November 23! RSVP through the Eventbrite link shared in our group and bring your favorite pie to share.

This episode’s small business spotlight shines on EZ Halal Market — part of the Hen’s Teeth Plaza at Los Robles and Woodbury (@ezhalalmarket), alongside dym Books & Boba (hosting tons of community events, including Mahjong Mondays, @dympasadena) and Kings Breakfast & Burgers (@kings_bnb). Follow them all on Instagram, and catch more of their opening stories we wrote last year on our Beautiful Altadena Substack.

After the fires, after the headlines — we’re still here, still asking, and still rebuilding.

In this episode we’re talking about the silence that speaks volumes — the sound of neglect. As we head into the Altadena Town Council elections (November 1st, 4th, and 8th), we break down what the ATC actually is, who’s running, and why this year’s vote may actually matter. If you’ve ever wondered whether local elections really affect recovery and accountability, this episode’s for you.

We also check in on the Altadena for Accountability campaign and the coalition’s ongoing push to get Attorney General Rob Bonta to do his job by compelling an independent investigation with subpoena power into our county’s fire response, or lack thereof. When leadership fails to act, silence isn’t peace, it’s neglect.

Our small business shoutouts this week go to a couple of local legends:

• Kismet Rotisserie — who were just days away from opening on Lincoln when the fire hit, and who came back strong, serving the best rotisserie chicken around. Follow them online @kismetrotisserie
• Ferrazzani’s — where Leah Ferrazzani and team are celebrating 11 years of handmade pasta, gelato, and Italian pantry magic. Find them online @ferrazzanispastaandmarket

On this episode the bit dog always squeals — and this time it’s coming straight from Sacramento. Governor Newsom’s last-minute legislation, SB 254, quietly lets Southern California Edison further off the hook, shifting more of the recovery burden back onto fire victims. And while some of our elected representatives claim they “didn’t know” this would happen… They knew.

Today SCE dropped its final Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program Protocol. With fifty-plus red-line changes, the offer somehow managed to get worse than the original draft. We always expected pennies on the dollar, but this latest version — released after “community feedback sessions” — is even harder to swallow.

As our Beautiful Altadena attorney Kipp Mueller told The New York Times today:

If you’re uninsured and need quick relief, this may be a path worth considering. But for everyone else, don’t waste your time. Buckle down with your trusted attorneys. The fight isn’t over.

Meanwhile, LA County quietly paid its CEO $2 million in an unreported settlement — a story first broken by LAist and later confirmed as a buy-off. For fire victims wondering where our public dollars go, there’s one answer.

And this episode's small business shout-outs go to:

• George’s Liquor — now reopened with limited hours at Lincoln & Altadena. Find them online @georges.liquor.altadena
• Altadena Cookie Co. — now with a brick-and-mortar home of their own that soft opened today at Lincoln & Altadena, adjacent Unincorporated Coffee and George's and Lucy's. Follow them online @altadenacookieco
• Ganahl Lumber’s Contractor’s Desk — always gracious and community-minded and a nice alternative to Home Depot @ganahllumberco

After the firestorm of Episode 11, we’re slowing it down, but not letting up.

In this shorter episode we zoom out and take a look at Prop 50, what’s really at stake, and why redistricting — that seemingly dry, procedural word — is a power move. We’ll give you a quick, no-fluff primer on congressional districting in California, walk through a little history, and unpack why things aren’t always what they seem on the ballot, especially when there's this much money involved. 

Small Business shout out goes to one of our taco (and burrito) spots, Tacos 210, a longtime Altadena food truck favorite run by Omar de Anda Sanchez. Solid burritos, fish tacos, birria con consomme, and vegan and gluten-free options done right, plus a great feature on Omar and his escape from a burning Altadena on SF Gate a few months ago (shout out to Farley for that one). Find Tacos 210 on Fair Oaks just south of Ventura and follow @tacos_210 for the latest. 

In this special double episode of After the Ashes (think: '80s after-school special meets legislative meltdown), we dive into a weekend full of political gut punches. Despite community protest, SB782 passed and the County machine wins, so now what? AB797, the much-hoped-for counterpoint, got unexpectedly vetoed. And Newsom killed SB629, the Zone 0 bill, too. Spoiler alert, Altadena was 0 for 2 on this one and now it's time to get to work holding the County accountable. 

We also unpack the Wall Street Journal story on billionaire lottery winner Edwin Castro and how the article pretty much confirms no one reads. Comments were overwhelmingly positive, but he could not have been more clear about the fact that his $10 million purchase of 15 lots to develop is business, not philanthropy. 

It’s a long one, because there’s a lot to say. 

Small Business shout-outs in this episode include Guillaume at Le Pain Beurre, who's bringing proper French bread to Altadena Bev at their pop-ups and could use your support as he rebuilds his life and business after total loss to the fire; gluten free baker Jenny Caloca aka Altadena Bread Co, who's also just getting back to baking after losing her home and cottage bakery to the fire, but is hot off of a major gluten-free comeback after winning the top award in the GF category at the World Bread Awards; and another Altadenan, Frank Kim, at Highlight Coffee on Lincoln, where they're sporting a new façade with the words "HOPE" and "COFFEE FOR REBUILDING."  Find them all online and show them all some love! 

@pain_beurre_altadena
@altadenabreadco
@highlightcoffee

In this episode, we explore the deep and often unseen role that philanthropy plays in shaping disaster recovery, including Altadena's. Building on our co-host Stephen Sachs’ AltaPolicyWonk Substack series — Philanthropy I, II, and III — we unpack the current nonprofit climate and how we got here.

We cover:

• The influence of institutions like Annenberg and where some of that FireAid money went
• How the California Community Foundation (CCF) is funding local efforts like the Department of Angels and Altagether
• Where recovery dollars are flowing — and where they aren’t — and what happens when they run dry 

We also talk candidly about the importance of transparency, local accountability, and the challenges ahead for a community trying to rebuild without losing its soul. And just a reminder — this podcast is not sponsored, funded, or backed by any organization. We do this independently and out of our own pockets because we think it's important for everyone to understand all of the issues at play. 

This episode’s local business shoutout: Altadena Ale House. A longtime neighborhood spot, Altadena Ale House is a cozy, community-rooted pub and wine bar known for its rotating craft beers and its French wine selection. Gail, its longtime owner has spent a lot of time in France and the wine list shows it! This is the spot for footy (aka soccer) and rugby games and a casual meetup. Find the Ale House at 2329 Fair Oaks Ave and on Instagram at @altadenaalehouse

Let’s keep going. Tune in and stay activated.

In this episode, we dig into the tough realities of insurance in a post-fire California. With the state’s CFP (California FAIR Plan) already insolvent before the fires, private insurers pulling out, and premiums skyrocketing, we’re all likely headed toward layered coverage — think homeowner's + earthquake + flood-style plans — even for basic fire protection. It's a shifting landscape, and homeowners need to be informed now, not later.

We also break down subrogation — what it means when your insurer gets paid back from any SCE-related settlement — and take a hard look at Southern California Edison’s direct settlement offer currently being presented to fire survivors.

 👉 Whether or not this offer is right for you depends entirely on your personal circumstances. While better than expected in some areas, it still leaves many behind — especially:

• Homeowners with standing but damaged homes
• Those with business, economic and personal injury losses
• And the insured folks who may see very little after subrogation, legal fees, and taxes

As co-host Shawna Dawson Beer puts it: 

This week we’re shouting out one of Altadena’s gems — @miyaonlake. Owned by fire survivor David Tewasart, who also runs Sticky Rice, Moon Rabbit and The Goldfish (the old Hi Hat on York). Recently named one of LA’s Top 15 Thai Restaurants by the LA Times, find handwritten menus, plant-based Tuesdays, and some of the best Thai fried chicken in the city. Visit them at 2470 N Lake Ave — right next to another community favorite, @thewellrock, owned by locals Jesse and Sarah.

Let’s keep going. Tune in and stay activated.

In this episode, we dig into AB238, the so-called mortgage relief bill — but is it truly relief, or just another setup for long-term displacement? We also explore how this bill connects directly to property taxes and AB782, and the larger web of legislation reshaping Altadena, often without any community input. 

We ask:

 👉 Will property taxes be based on cash value or square footage?
👉 Why are we being told one thing but seeing nothing in writing?
👉 Who benefits when our property values — and taxes — quietly go up?

One thing is clear: the incentives align to drive property values and taxes up across the board, and Altadena deserves answers.

We invite LA County Tax Assessor Jeff Prang on a future episode to address these concerns directly and help shed light on how these changes could affect homeowners in Altadena and across LA County.

On this episode, we’re proud to spotlight Rhythms of the Village and their upcoming Fall Fest on November 22, from 1–7 PM at John Muir High School!
Though they lost their brick-and-mortar shop to a fire, they’re still here — keeping culture, connection, and community alive. Go for the Live Music, Great Food, Local Vendors, Community Love.  Bring your friends, your family, and your whole tribe. Let’s celebrate the spirit of Altadena together! Learn more @1rhythmsofthevillage

Let’s keep going. Tune in and stay activated.

We're back in bed with these bills. Did we ever really leave? In this episode, we’re breaking down the latest on AB782, which has already passed behind closed doors and is now sitting on Governor Newsom’s desk just waiting for a signature. No ballot. No community input. No chance to vote or veto. This is how gentrification and densification gets ushered in — quietly and without consent.

We connect the dots between AB782, SB9, and Altadena’s own Community Standards District (CSD) — and what this trio really means for our neighborhoods. Spoiler: it’s not the character of the community we lost. 

Plus, we touched on AB679 and the idea of Zone Zero Defensible Space — what’s legit fire protection policy, and what might be more cause for concern?

🔥 CALL TO ACTION: It’s time to write, call, and email Governor Newsom — and let him know Altadena did NOT ask for this (AB782, SB9 and AB679), and we do NOT want this. Blow up his office inbox, flood the phone lines, and make our voices impossible to ignore.

And for our small business shoutout we’re showing love to CR Citrus, a (currently displaced) Altadena local crafting delicious smoked citrus products for cocktails and mocktails. You can find them at Altadena Bev on Allen. Go support them at:

🍊 @crcitrus
🥂 @altadenabev

Community power is real — let’s show them how Altadena shows up. Let’s keep going. Tune in and stay activated.